MEET THE PASTOR & FIRST LADY

Dr. Terrence L. Vandiver, Sr.

& Lady Maria Vandiver

At the heart of Thankful Baptist Church is a family who leads with love, lives with purpose, and serves with unwavering faith. Dr. Terrence Vandiver and Lady Maria Vandiver have been married for 22 years and are proud parents of three remarkable adult children—Terrence Jr., Taryn, and Tierra. Now empty nesters, they continue to pour their lives into the Thankful family with the same care and intentionality they've shown in raising their own. Lady Maria Vandiver is a compassionate soul, a devoted mother, and a faithful servant of God. She is known for her quiet strength, her fervent prayers, and her deep commitment to ministry. A graduate of Georgia Southern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Social Work, her educational background reflects the very heart she carries — a deep, God-given calling to care for people. As First Lady, she serves with both vision and humility, encouraging women, families, and all who encounter her to trust God wholeheartedly. Pastor V is a preacher and teacher who brings the Word with clarity, conviction, and a warmth that makes you feel like he's talking directly to you. A graduate of Fort Valley State University with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, he went on to earn a Master of Divinity from Erskine Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Dental College of Georgia. He is also a Certified Speaker, Trainer, Coach, and DISC Consultant with the Maxwell Leadership Team — bringing the same excellence and intentionality to leadership development that he brings to the pulpit. His messages are rooted in Scripture, grounded in real life, and delivered with the kind of passion that moves hearts and shifts perspectives. Whether it's your first Sunday or your five-hundredth, you'll leave with something to carry into your week. Come hear for yourself — the best way to know Thankful is to experience it.

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